lawalin



H. L. LAWALIN CHIP COLLECTOR FOR VERTICAL LATHES March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 Fig. l

Harold L. Lawalin INVENTOR.

March 24, 1964 H. LAWALIN v3,1?5,912

CHIP COLLECTOR FOR VERTICAL LATHES Filed Dec. 11, L961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harbld L. Lawalin IN VEN TOR.

m lw United States Patent .0

3,125,912 fill-HP CQLLECTOR FOR VERTICAL LATHES Harold L. Lawalin, Productive Service Co. Inc.,

Box 22063 Rainbow Station, Indianapolis, Ind., as-

signor of twenty-eight percent to William G.

Gerald and twenty-one percent to Harley J. Campbell, both of Indianapolis, Ind.

Filed Dec. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 158,376 4 Claims. (Cl. 82-2) The invention generally relates to vertical lathes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as here inafter set forth, novel means for continuously removing and collecting the chips as they fall from the workpiece, rather than permitting said chips to accumulate in the area of the chuck to be periodically and laboriously removed by hand, as at present.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a chip collector of the aforementioned character wherein, during a wet operation, the coolant may be separated from the chips and returned to the usual pan.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a chip collector of the character described which may be readily installed for use on a conventional vertical lathe without the necessity of modifying or altering said lathe structurally.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a chip collector of the character set forth which functions as a guard for protecting the operator.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a chip collector of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, showing a vertical lathe equipped with a chip collector embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the collector per se; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through the discharge portion of the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral 5 designates generally a conventional vertical lathe. The lathe 5 includes the usual circular or cylindrical base 6, square coolant pan 7, turret 8, a counterclockwise rotating chuck 9, etc.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises an inwardly opening annular trough, cowl, shroud or the like of substantially semicircular or U-shaped cross-section and of any suitable metal and dimensions. The cowl 10 is removably mounted on the upper portion of the base 6 in spaced, opposed concentric relation to the chuck 9. Toward this end, the cowl 10 includes a depending ring or flange 11 which encircles the upper portion of the base 6 and is detachably secured thereto in any suitable manner, as at 12.

Communicating with the cowl 10 for receiving the chips, ect., therefrom is a tangential, inclined discharge chute 13. Vertical fins or vanes 14 are secured on the chuck 9 at circumferentially spaced points. The fans or vanes 14 are adapted to throw the chips outwardly or away from the chuck 9 into the cowl 10 to be discharged through the chute 13.

Reference numeral 15 designates a rectangular, open mobile box, container or cart for receiving the chips and the coolant, in case of a wet operation, from the chute 13. The container 15 is mounted on suitable casters or wheels 16. Reference numeral 17 designates a discharge chute on the container 15 for returning the coolant to the pan 7.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the chuck 9 turns counterclockwise with the fins or vans 14 thereon. Thus, as the metallic chips fall around the chuck 9 they are thrown outwardly into the cowl 10 by the fins or vanes 14 in an obvious manner. These chips, also the coolant as the case may be, are discharged through the chute 13 into the container 15. As hereinbefore stated, if a coolant is being used, such coolant is returned to the pan 7 by the chute 17. It will be noted that the construction and arrangement of parts is such that when the container 15 is positioned beneath the chute 13 for receiving the chips, etc., therefrom, the chute 17 projects over the pan 7. At the approach to the chute 13 the cowl 10 is formed to provide an upstanding bafie or guard 18.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a vertical lathe including a cylindrical base, a square coolant pan encircling the lower portion thereof and a chuck rotatable in a horizontal plane on said base, a chip collector comprising a generally circular, inwardly opening trough of substantially U-shaped cross-section removably mounted on the base and enclosing the chuck in spaced, opposed relation thereto for receiving chips and a coolant therefrom, an integral, depending ring on the lower portion of the trough telescopically receiving the upper portion of the base and detachably secured thereto for removably mounting said trough thereon, a substantially tangential chute integral with the trough and communicating therewith for the discharge of the chips and coolant therefrom, and means for delivering the coolant to the pan from the chute.

2. In combination with a vertical lathe including a cylindrical base, a square coolant pan encircling the lower portion thereof and a chuck rotatable in a horizontal plane on said base, a chip collector comprising a generally circular, inwardly opening trough of substantially U-shaped cross-section removably mounted on the base and enclosing the chuck in spaced, opposed relation thereto for receiving chips and a coolant therefrom, an integral, depending rings on the lower portion of the trough telescopically receiving the upper portion of the base and detachably secured thereto for removably mounting said trough thereon, a substantially tangential chute integral with the trough and communicating therewith for the discharge of the chips and coolant therefrom, and means for delivering the coolant to the pan from the chute, said means comprising an open, generally rectangular, caster-supported mobile container adapted to be positioned beneath the chute closely adjacent to and parallel with the adjacent side of the pan for receiving the coolant by gravity from the chute, said container including a discharge chute adapted to project over the pan for discharging the coolant by gravity thereinto.

3. The combination of claim 2, said trough compris- 5 radial fins on its periphery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,864,307 Johnson June 21, 1932 1,917,831 Fairbairn July 11, 1933 1,957,667 Ritter et a1. May 8, 1934 2,889,722 Laubach June 9, 1959 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A VERTICAL LATHE INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL BASE, A SQUARE COOLANT PAN ENCIRCLING THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND A CHUCK ROTATABLE IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE ON SAID BASE, A CHIP COLLECTOR COMPRISING A GENERALLY CIRCULAR, INWARDLY OPENING TROUGH OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND ENCLOSING THE CHUCK IN SPACED, OPPOSED RELATION THERETO FOR RECEIVING CHIPS AND A COOLANT THEREFROM, AN INTEGRAL, DEPENDING RING ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE BASE AND DETACHABLY SECURED THERETO FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING SAID TROUGH THEREON, A SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIAL CHUTE INTEGRAL WITH THE TROUGH AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH FOR THE DISCHARGE OF THE CHIPS AND COOLANT THEREFROM, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE COOLANT TO THE PAN FROM THE CHUTE. 